Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-11-04
The OIL MONOPOLY.


The wires bring Us the intelligence Of
new oil "combine" which gives the
Standard Oil Company control of the ca
tire oil products OF the country. There
is no "trust" or spool" about this deal;
| it is clear, clear sale, and henceforward
the Standard Oil Company will not only
have the power of placing value and
setting price upon the oil consumed
by the people, but that many
times millionaire monopoly will have
It's hand on the oil wells and
will say just how much the
earth will be permitted to give forth.
One part OF the programme as announced,
and the part for which the Standard Oh
Company has been l&borlDg to control, is
that the output Is to be lessened. One
| half of the wells are to be closed for
eighteen months or, at least, only one-half
taken from them. To mollify those
engaged as laborers in the oil regions the
company h:s set aside 2, GOO, 900 barrels OF
oil to be disposed OF and expended in
slIeviating the suffeTings CT those
laborers who will be thrown ont
OF employment by the closing
down Of the wells. These men are to be
paid for doing nothing and the company
Is going to make money out of the enter
prise of so retaining and maintaining
them. II goes without the saying that
the people will have to foot the bill. The
price Of oil will advance to figure which
will enable the Standard Oil Company 70
pay the expenses of hundreds and thou
sands of idle men and still reap rich re-
ward. There are few oil wells left, but
the output of these will be purchased
by the great monopoly and those
who desire to consume oil will
have to pay the pound OF flesh. In this
manner the cotton seed oil mills of the
south were closed last season. Labo-ers |
were thrown idle, and machinery which |
should have been in active operation pro-
duciug national wealth was silent end |
still. Bat machinery is the result OF
mans LABOR, and If man obtains dominion |
ever It there is some excuse for it. With |
the Oil wells it Is another thing. Here, |
monopoly has Invaded the sacred rights
Of all the people, and appropriated to It,
self the bcuDties of nature. Oil is one Of
the natural gifts voucbs8fad by PcoTi-
dence to ell men; it does InoE come from
the laboratory OF the chemist, but ie dis
titled by the Creator, and gushes forth
from It's suo.erranean reservoirs when in
vited By the labor of man. To assume
control OF this 'igifs of Gcd to nan" is
assuming more power than belongs to
any mfn or Set Of men. 1t is highway
robbery committed UpoG the prerogasiye
OF the Deity. The natural laws OF sup
ply and demard-th0se laws which we
have considered immut&ble and upon
which We confidently rested our hopes
have been tranpled upon, ignosed, set at
bond women Of monopolistic greed and
avqrice. Il is q serious matter, segious
because possible. Land monopoly is
more dangerous IA principle, but less
dangerous in prSo.ice, because an abso-
lutte land monopoly is an absolute impos-
sibiljty. The Standard Oil Company hes
practiced extortion and determination
for 8 long time, but it appears that it
is only beginning its real rayages.
No opposition company csn exist. The
bighting shadow OF this upas tree is felt
here in Fort Worth, and very likely in
every other town in the south. Let any
other company dare enter the market IS
dealer in oil, and instantly the price is
pat down below cost and kept there IN
til the troublesome opponent is re-
moved, when they are placed back again
to point where al losses will be recov-
cred. And even at prlces,fxed by itself
the Standard Oh Company neglects TO
provide continuous supply. At the
present time people who burn gasoline
cannot obtain gsllon-there is none
here. Now that the great monopoly has
exclusive control of the entire
oil supply OF the country we can look
for less consideration and must submit
to higher prices.
Ought TO Rave II,